Pair Has Idea To Save Sunners

July 28, 1985|by KEITH GROLLER, The Morning Call

Richard Zahm and Bob Walsh think that the Allentown Sunners' fastpitch softball team is too good not to be competing in the two major national fastpitch tournaments this year. They also believe the team deserves a permanent home in Allentown.

So, Zahm, a Bethlehem oral surgeon and Walsh, the veteran fastpitch umpire and state International Softball Congress commissioner, have come up with an idea to start a Sunners Booster Club which would have its goals: (1) raise $12,000 so the team can compete in the ISC and ASA national tournaments this summer and (2) acquire enough funds so that the team can continue to operate in the Lehigh Valley.

"We think that the Sunners are too good of a ballclub to see go to waste," said Zahm, a sports enthusiast who is president of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame. "Our primary concern is to get them the necessary funds to compete in the the ISC and ASA national tournaments this year.

"We're looking for local businesses, individuals, anybody, who would be willing to donate money. We've already got a couple of people who have pledged a $1,000 to get itgoing. But at this point, they're still in desperate need. They have a good chance to become the first team to ever compete in the ISC and ASA in the same year and it would be a shame if they couldn't make it."

But besides getting the team to the major tournaments this year, Zahm and Walsh hope that those who contribute money would become permanent supporters of the Sunners and form a booster club to "maintain fastpitch softball in this area."

The Sunners had been based in Leesport up until this year, but were forced to relocate when they lost their sponsor, the Bank of Pennsylvania. The team entered into an agreement with the Allentown Patriots to play their home games at Pates and Bicenntennial Parks in Allentown this year, while seeking a sponsor.

The team has been quite successful on the field, racking up a 51-9 record heading into last night's doubleheader and is currently ranked fifth in the nation. But the team has failed in trying to acquire financial help.

According to the team's field and business manager, Rocky Santilli, the club has talked to several area businesses about a sponsorhip, but has been turned down each time.

"Our primary objective is still to get a sponsor," said Santilli. "Starting a booster club is nice, but getting five or six guys to chip in $1,000 apiece is not going to provide the funds to keep us going.

"But certainly we need help and anything done is a plus. We're slowly running out of time in getting the money together to go to the ISC and ASA tournaments."

Santilli said he had never heard of Zahm up to about two weeks ago, but was impressed with the doctor during a meeting he had at Zahm's office last week. "He seems to be extremely interested and a person who knows how to get things done," said Santilli.

Zahm and Walsh came up with the idea to start a booster club while chatting during a recent Sunners game.

"We've known each other for years and we just started talking while we were watching a ballgame and came to the conclusion that with his strong interest and my know-how, we could make something happen," said Walsh. "We're two guys who really don't have to be bothered with this. But we both love the game of softball and want to do our best to help the game survive right here in the Lehigh Valley."

Zahm has a proven track record in enabling things to survive. For 17 years, he has run the LaSasso Memorial Banquet for middle school football players in Bethlehem.

"Gus (LaSasso) was a friend of mine and I have made sure that the banquet gets done every year," said Zahm. "I can't let that die, the kids look forward to it."

Now Zahm, with help from Walsh, is trying to ensure that big-time fastpitch softball does not die in the Lehigh Valley.

If interested in making a donation and joining the Sunners Booster Club, write to 619 Linden St., Bethlehem, Pa., 18018, or call 866-2888.